Shag rug cleaning nozzle apparatus

ABSTRACT

Vacuum cleaning nozzle apparatus for cleaning a shag-type rug comprising an assembly of two oppositely disposed spaced air guide members extending downwardly and inwardly from the outer longitudinal edges of a vacuum cleaner nozzle and having an air guide flange extending upwardly from the lower edge of each air guide member and terminating adjacent the air inlet opening of the nozzle to guide air downwardly into contact with the rug and then upwardly into the air intake opening of the nozzle and having a roller member extending substantially the length of the air guide members disposed between the air guide flanges which at least partially rollably supports the nozzle.

[ 51 July 18, 1972 United States Patent Berry FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [54] SHAG RUG CLEANING NOZZLE APPARATUS Sweden...................................15/328 [72] Inventor: Willis E. Berry, Bloomington, Ill.

Primacy Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore [73] Assignee: National Union Hectrlc Co Stamford, Conn.

March 5, 1971 Artorney-l-libben, Noyes & Bicknell ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

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UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,893,048 Martinec.............................15/246 X 5 China, 6Drawing figures Patented July 18, 1972 2 Shee ts-Sheet f Inventor Willis E. Berr B3 fi m,N yfl-L8 6M SIIAG RUG CLEANING NOZZLE APPARATUS The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for use with a vacuum cleaner structure and more particularly to an improved attachment for use in vacuum cleaning shag-type rugs which have nap formed of elongated strands.

When a shag-type rug is in use dirt becomes imbedded in the long strands or pile and is matted under the strands of the rug. Attachments and nozzles for suction cleaners, such as tank-type vacuum cleaner nozzles, are commonly used for cleaning rugs and floors. Ordinarily, a vacuum cleaning nozzle can be readily moved over the surface of a rug. With shag-type rugs, however, the elongated strands are drawn into the air inlet passage of the cleaner nozzle and make it difficult to move the nozzle over the surface of the shag rug, thereby preventing effective removal of dirt from shag-type rugs.

Various proposals have been made for providing an improved cleaning nozzle or cleaning attachment for a conventional tank-type cleaning nozzle to facilitate cleaning shag rugs which comprise providing means for elevating the lower surface of the nonle above the surface of the shag rug to prevent the elongated strands of the rug blocking the air intake passage of the nozzle and facilitate moving the nonle over the surface of the rug. These proposals have proven unsatisfactory, however, because the air does not enter the nozzle as a rapidly moving stream sufficiently close to the surface of the rug which is essential for effectively entraining and removing dirt particles from a shag-type rub.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum-type cleaning nozzle assembly for shagtype rugs which permits easily moving the cleaning nozzle along the surface of the shag-type rug while at the same time effectively removing particles of dirt from the shag-type rug.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning nozzle attachment which enables a vacuum-type cleaning nozzle being readily moved along the surface of a shag-type rug and effectively removing dirt therefrom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved attachment for use with a tank-type vacuum cleaner which imparts improved cleaning action to a vacuum ype cleaning nozzle on shag-type nigs.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and claims to follow when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a vacuum-type cleaning nozzle and cleaning nozzle attachment embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cleaning nozzle and at tachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cleaning nozzle and attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the nozzle attachment shown in FIGS. 1-3',

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the attachment taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view partially in elevation taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, a tank-type vacuum cleaner suction cleaning nozzle 10 has a shag rug cleaning tool or attachment 20 operatively connected with the nozzle 10. The nozzle 10 is detachably connected to the lower end of a tubular conduit 11 which has its upper end connected to a suction cleaning device, such as a tank-type vacuum cleaner (not shown). The suction cleaning nozzle 10 is comprised of front and rear walls l2, 13, respectively, which are connected by end walls 14, 15 and which together form a nozzle housing with the lower edges thereof lying substantially in a single transverse plane and forming a planar generally rectangular lower surface 16 having an elongated air intake opening 17 formed between the walls thereof. A resilient bumper ring 19 encloses the lower lateral edge of the nozzle 10.

The attachment 20 in the preferred form of the invention is comprised of an elongated body section having a length substantially the length of the generally rectangular lower surface 16 of the nozzle 10 and a width slightly less than the width of the said lower surface 16. The body section of the attachment 20 is formed of two spaced elongated air guide plates or members 22, 23, preferably planar, which extend downwardly and inwardly. The upper edge of each of the said air guide members 22, 23 is provided with an upwardly extending lip or flange 24, 25, respectively, which substantially prevent air entering the air intake passage 17 between the lower edges of the nozzle 10 and the upper edge of the air guide members 22, 23.

The lower opposite ends of the air guide members 22, 23 are connected by transversely extending roller support sections 26, 27 which preferably are integrally formed with the air guide members 22, 23, respectively. The roller support sections 26, 27 preferably lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the lower surface 16 of the nozzle 10 and provides support for mounting a roller member 36 therebetween. Each of the support sections 26, 27 preferably has an end tab member 28, 29, respectively, extending upwardly from the outer edge thereof.

The lower edges of the elongated air guide members 22, 23 have spaced inwardly from the roller support sections 26, 27 at each end an upwardly extending short abutment flange section 30, 30' and 31, 3| which are adapted to engage the lower surface 16 of the nozzle 10 to facilitate properly positioning and supporting the attachment 20 on the nozzle 10. Between the short flange sections 30, 30 and 31, 31' and extending along the remaining length of the lower edge of the air guide members l2, 13 are upwardly inclined air guide flange sections 32, 33, respectively. The air guide flange sections 32, 33 have a length substantially the length of the air intake passage 17 and have their inner ends terminating adjacent the forward edge 34 and rear edge 34', respectively, of the air intake passage 17 of the nozzle 10, thereby providing a guide channel for air entering the air intake passage 17, as best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing. The air guide plate members 22, 23 serve to strengthen the structure and prevent the roller member 36 digging deeply into the rug. Also, the guide plate members 22, 23 together with the flange sections 32, 33 require the inflowing air to be drawn into the cleaning nozzle closely adjacent the surface of the rug rather than flowing along the lower surface 16 of the nozzle and making it necessary for the air to pass rapidly through the strands of a shag rug and upwardly into the nozzle without allowing the strands of a shag rug to be drawn upwardly blocking the air inlet passage 17 of the noule 10.

The roller member 36 in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is supported between the support sections 26, 27 on an axle rod 37 having the opposite ends thereof joumalled in cuplike members 38, 38' which are held against longitudinal movement by the end tabs 28, 29, respectively. The rod 37 is held against upward relative movement away from the support sections 26, 27 by roller retainer members 40, 41, connected to the roller support section 26, 27, respectively. The retainer members 40, 41 are preferably provided with a concave portion 42, 43, respectively, which is adapted to engage the cup-like members 38, 38', respectively, and restrain the rod 37 against upward or transverse relative movement.

The body section of the attachment 20 is provided with means for detachably mounting on the cleaning nozzle 10, and in the form illustrated in the drawing the opposite ends of the roller retainer member 40, 41, have integrally formed therewith upwardly extending front arm members 46, 46' and rear arm members 47, 47' which are preferably formed of spring steel or the like resilient material. The front and rear arm members 46, 46' and 47, 47', respectively, are preferably oppositely disposed and together form resilient means for quick detachable mounting of the attachment 20 in operative position on the nozzle 10.

The front resilient arms 46, 46' extend upwardly and inwardly above the upper edge of the air guide member 12 so as to resiliently engage the resilient bumper ring 19, preferably formed of vinyl plastic, which encircles the lower latter edge of the nozzle The upwardly extending rear arms 47, 47 are provided with an end section having a generally S-shaped configuration which terminates with an upwardly and rearwardly extending finger engagement surface 48, 48' which will not come into contact with furniture or the like during use The nozzle engaging surfaces of the oppositely disposed resilient arms 46, 47 and 46, 47' are normally spaced slightly less than the transverse width of the nozzle 10.

In mounting the attachment 20 on the nozzle 10 the front arms 46, 46 are preferably first placed in contact with the front edge of the nozzle 10 with the upper end of the arms 46, 46 extending above the shoulder fonned by the front wall 12 of the nozzle. The attachment 20 is then rotated about the front edge of the nozzle 10 to move the rear arms 47, 47' into contact with the rear edge of the nozzle and by applying a generally outwardly or rearwardly pressure on the finger engagement end portions 48, 48' the resilient arms are spread sufficiently to permit the rear arm 47, 47 being moved over the shoulder formed by the rear wall 13 of the nozzle 10. When the pressure on the end portions 48, 48' is released the oppositely disposed arms resiliently engage or clamp the nozzle housing and hold the attachment in operative position on the nozzle 10 with the air guide members 22, 23 and roller 36 extending below the lower surface 16 of the nozzle 10. Removal of the attachment 20 from the nozzle ll] is readily accomplished by applying a downward and outward pressure on the finger engagement portions 48, 48 of the attachment 20 while holding the nozzle 10 stationaryi With the attachment 20 in operative position on the nozzle 10, the roller member 36 in the disclosed embodiment of positioned directly below theair inlet passage with the longitudinal axis of the roller member 36 lying in the plane of the center line of the air inlet passage 17. It will be observed that when the air inlet passage 17 is forward of the center of the nozzle 10, as when the nozzle N] has an adjustable brush mechanism 50 occupying a substantial portion of the interior of the nozzle, the roller member 36 must be positioned in the attachment 20 forwardly of the center line thereof. In the embodiment of the herein disclosed invention the roller member 36 serves to space both the lower surface 16 of the nozzle 10 and the air intake passage 17 sufficiently above the surface of the shag rug to prevent blockage of the air intake passage 17 by the elongated strands of the shag rug, as well as to facilitate moving of the nozzle along the surface of the rug. The air guide plate members 22, 23, together with the air guide flange sections 32, 33 and the roller member 36 co-act to cause a rapidly flowing stream of air to flow downwardly into contact with the surface of the rug and then pass upwardly between the air guide flange sections and the surface of the roller member so as to draw air through the strands of the shag rug and upwardly into the air intake passage of the nozzle, thereby providing effective cleaning of the shag rug when the cleaning nozzle with the attachment mounted thereon is moved in the conventional manner forwardly and rearwardly along the surface of the shag rug.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the herein disclosed invention can be embodied in a cleaning nozzle of any type suction cleaner device, including the tank-type vacuum cleaner nozzle shown in the drawing or in an upright vacuum cleaner, either as an attachment detachably mounted on the cleaning nozzle or as an integral part of the cleaning nozzle housings l claim:

1. A suction cleaner nozzle having spaced front and rear walls connected by end walls which together form a housing section having in the lower surface thereof an elongated air inlet passage adapted to be connected with a source of suction, said housing section having extending along the front and rear walls thereof elongated downwardly inclined air guide members, each of said air guide members having the opposite lower ends thereof connected by a roller support section, said air guide members having means for preventing air entering said air inlet passage adjacent the said upper edge of said air guide members and having along the lower edge thereof an upwardly extending air guide flange section with a major portion of the innermost end of said air guide flange section disposed in close proximity to a longitudinal edge of said air inlet passage of said nozzle and providing a passage for conveying air into said air inlet passage, a roller member rotatably supported between said roller support sections and having the lower edge of said roller member extending below said roller support sections to enable said nozzle to be at least partially supported by said roller member when in contact with the surface of a rug.

2. An attachment for a suction cleaner nozzle having spaced front and rear walls connected by end walls with the lower edges of said walls lying substantially in a single transverse plane and together forming a housing section having a generally planar lower surface with an elongated air inlet passage therein adapted to be connected with a source of suction which comprises; an elongated body section formed of spaced downwardly inclined air guide members which have the opposite ends thereof connected by a roller support section, each of said air guide members having extending along the upper edge thereof means which prevents air entering said air inlet passage adjacent said upper edge thereof and having along the lower edge thereof an upwardly extending air guide flange section which has a major portion of the inner end of said flange section adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a longitudinal edge of said air inlet passage for guiding air into said passage, a roller member rotatably supported between said roller support sections with the lower edge of said roller member extending below said roller support sections to enable said nozzle to be at least partially supported by said roller member when in contact with the surface of a rug and adapted to be supported when in operative position on said nozzle opposite said air inlet passage, and mounting means for detachably mounting said body sections in operative position on said housing section.

3. An attachment as in claim 2, wherein said elongated body section is formed of spaced planar downwardly and inwardly extending air guide members which have the opposite ends thereof connected by a roller support section with each of said air guide members having extending along the upper edge thereof means for engaging said lower surface of said nozzle to prevent air entering said air inlet passage adjacent the upper edge and having along the lower edge of said air guide members an upwardly inclined air guide flange section which has at least a portion thereof adapted to engage said lower surface of the housing with a major portion of the inner end of each said air guide flange section adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a longitudinal edge of said air inlet passage for guiding air into said passage, a roller member supported by said roller support sections having the outer ends thereof restrained against transverse and longitudinal movement and having the lower edge of said roller member extending below said roller support sections to enable said nozzle to be at least partially supported by said roller member when in contact with the surface of a rug, and said roller member adapted to being operatively supported directly blow said air inlet passage with the longitudinal axis of said roller member lying substantially in the plane of the longitudinal centerline of said air inlet passage, and the said mounting means for detachably mounting said body sections on said housing section comprising spaced upwardly extending resilient arm members connected with each said air guide members for resiliently engaging said housing section and detachably holding said body section in operative position on said housing sections 4. An attachment as in claim 3, wherein each said roller support sections has an upwardly extending abutment tab integrally formed at the outer edge of each said roller support section which are adapted for restraining said roller member against longitudinal movement.

5. An attachment as in claim 3, wherein said resilient arm members are secured to said roller support sections and have the lower ends of oppositely disposed pairs thereof connected by a roller retaining section which remains said rod member against movement away from said roller support section.

' i t i I 

1. A suction cleaner nozzle having spaced front and rear walls connected by end walls which together form a housing section having in the lower surface thereof an elongated air inlet passage adapted to be connected with a source of suction, said housing section having extending along the front and rear walls thereof elongated downwardly inclined air guide members, each of said air guide members having the opposite lower ends thereof connected by a roller support section, said air guide members having means for preventing air entering said air inlet passage adjacent the said upper edge of said air guide members and having along the lower edge thereof an upwardly extending air guide flange section with a major portion of the innermost end of said air guide flange section disposed in close proximity to a longitudinal edge of said air inlet passage of said nozzle and providing a passage for conveying air into said air inlet passage, a roller member rotatably supported between said roller support sections and having the lower edge of said roller member extending below said roller support sections to enable said nozzle to be at least partially supported by said roller member when in contact with the surface of a rug.
 2. An attachment for a suction cleaner nozzle having spaced front and rear walls connected by end walls with the lower edges of said walls lying substantially in a single transverse plane and together forming a housing section having a generally planar lower surface with an elongated air inlet passage therein adapted to be connected with a source of suction which comprises; an elongated body section formed of spaced downwardly inclined air guide members which have the opposite ends thereof connected by a roller support section, each of said air guide members having extending along the upper edge thereof means which prevents air entering said air inlet passage adjacent said upper edge thereof and having along the lower edge thereof an upwardly extending air guide flange section which has a major portion of the inner end of said flange section adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a longitudinal edge of said air inlet passage for guiding air into said passage, a roller member rotatably supported between said roller support sections with the lower edge of said roller member extending below said roller support sections to enable said nozzle to be at least partially supported by said roller member when in contact with the surface of a rug and adapted to be supported when in operative position on said nozzle opposite said air inlet passage, and mounting means for detachably mounting said body sections in operative position on said housing section.
 3. An attachment as in claim 2, wherein said elongAted body section is formed of spaced planar downwardly and inwardly extending air guide members which have the opposite ends thereof connected by a roller support section with each of said air guide members having extending along the upper edge thereof means for engaging said lower surface of said nozzle to prevent air entering said air inlet passage adjacent the upper edge and having along the lower edge of said air guide members an upwardly inclined air guide flange section which has at least a portion thereof adapted to engage said lower surface of the housing with a major portion of the inner end of each said air guide flange section adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a longitudinal edge of said air inlet passage for guiding air into said passage, a roller member supported by said roller support sections having the outer ends thereof restrained against transverse and longitudinal movement and having the lower edge of said roller member extending below said roller support sections to enable said nozzle to be at least partially supported by said roller member when in contact with the surface of a rug, and said roller member adapted to being operatively supported directly blow said air inlet passage with the longitudinal axis of said roller member lying substantially in the plane of the longitudinal centerline of said air inlet passage, and the said mounting means for detachably mounting said body sections on said housing section comprising spaced upwardly extending resilient arm members connected with each said air guide members for resiliently engaging said housing section and detachably holding said body section in operative position on said housing section.
 4. An attachment as in claim 3, wherein each said roller support sections has an upwardly extending abutment tab integrally formed at the outer edge of each said roller support section which are adapted for restraining said roller member against longitudinal movement.
 5. An attachment as in claim 3, wherein said resilient arm members are secured to said roller support sections and have the lower ends of oppositely disposed pairs thereof connected by a roller retaining section which restrains said rod member against movement away from said roller support section. 